MOI Press briefings: Govt confusing Ghanaians with too many speakers- Bernard Avle

Host of ‘Citi Breakfast show’ on Accra-based Citi Fm, Bernard Avle has expressed worry at the bundle of persons lined up by the Ministry of Information (MOI) to address the public in their regular press briefings.

According to the multiple award winning journalist,the focus of government shouldn’t be on winning the argument but rather getting things done and allowing the data and graphs to speak for themselves.

“They need to get their act together on what message they want to ride out… I think whoever is leading this effort should whip everybody into line and say let’s stay on message."

"Look, Okoe Boye said to me that the person who leads the communication in a public health emergency is the most important person but in Ghana, every day, on average seven people come and address us."

"Is that the best way to do it. Today had the smallest number of speakers with four people speaking. Three days ago, it was about seven people. Health Minister spoke, Information Minister Spoke, then you had advisor to the President also speaking and then a couple of directors from the Ghana Health Service coming to speak. One on face mask. Why? What are we doing? You are confusing everybody.”

“We already have information overload. I know the Information Minister is young and he has proven to very competent and he clearly understands the communication so you probably need to choose the Scientist for the day, if it’s a virologist and an epidemiologist, and leave the rest to the Information Minister but you can’t have all these and have people saying one thing to the other.

"Today for instance, I’m not saying don’t talk about bank reliefs but they even added defunct banks, savings… I mean, why?

"You can do a regular press conference but this is a Covid-19 session. It is a delicate situation that we are in and we can’t do business where everybody wants to be recognized for what they are saying. You confuse everybody. You confuse the whole country.” Benard Avle stated on Citi TV.

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana, the Ministry of Information holds regular press briefings on Tuesdays and Thursdays to update Ghanaians on relevant data and information.

The briefings are usually in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.